Intrusion: Revelations

Solaris's blood roared in her ears, her breathing was ragged and sweat poured out between her plates. Her body felt like jelly; her legs could barely support her.

"Again!" Captain Brevelin barked somewhere over to her right.

Solaris had been at this for hours. She had done all the regular drills with the rest of the Cabals, but now, the Captain was 'evaluating' her biotic skill. She had passed all of the simple tests with flying colors, but he was pushing her to the limit. I can't create a damn Singularity! But once again, he was asking, and Solaris had to try.

She concentrated her mind and her power, and focused on creating the mini black hole. But once again, there was nothing but a little blip in the space where she was aiming for. The energy toll hit her, but as always, she managed to recover enough to stand.

The Captain sighed, "Again!"

Solaris was trying, she really was. Maybe I just can't do it... Solaris thought miserably. Her pulse thudded in her ears as she concentrated again, and failed. Her amp felt like it was going to burn through her skull. This time, the energy toll was too much. Her heart fluttered and her lungs burned for oxygen. To Solaris's surprise, she slumped, but managed to stay conscious and on her feet. The Captain sighed again, clearly frustrated with her.

"Enough; go and rest. We will pick this up tomorrow." He said, making a dismissive motion with his hand and stalking out of the gymnasium.

Solaris watched him leave, waiting until the doors closed behind him before collapsing on the unforgiving gym floor. She lay there, panting and trying to calm her erratic heart. This is going to be the death of me... Solaris thought disjointedly. She pictured tomorrow's practice; she would be giving her all and still do terribly, only to collapse and die right then and there. Just great... She had to fight the overwhelming urge to sleep on the gym floor in her black armor. I...need to sleep in my own bunk... Solaris thought as she strained to sit and then stand up. The world swayed and spun as she tried to make it to the other gym exit. It felt like a millennium until she had wandered through the halls and into the elevator.

Solaris slapped the holo for the 10th deck. As the lift whirred towards its destination, she wilted to the ground completely devoid of energy. She fumbled for the tube of nutrient paste that Titus had given her. Solaris cursed loudly and remembered she had left it in the bunkroom. Spirits be damned! I can't do this... The elevator doors opened, interrupting her fitful moment. She stood in a hurry as she surveyed the crew deck. Once again, it was like the zoo on Cipritine; crowded with large, unruly animals and hellishly noisy. Taking a moment to collect herself, Solaris waded into the throng. Turians jostled and shoved until Solaris thought she was going to explode with rage. Luckily, she came upon her hallway before anything regrettable happened.

Almost dragging her numb legs, Solaris finally reached the room. She pounded on the holo and trudged in, barely noticing Max quickly shutting down his computer. Since she didn't have the energy to climb to her bed, she flopped onto the couch. Oh, sweet cool leather upholstery. I never thought I could miss you so much. Solaris thought. Her heart rate had slowed, but still howled in her ears along with her rapid breathing.


Max peered over at his bunkmate from his desk. She sounded like she had just been sprinting. Damn, what did the Captain do to her? he thought worriedly. Solaris did not speak, or move for that matter, for the longest time. Max cautiously tiptoed over to her prone form on the couch.

"Hey... lazy bones, you okay?" he said. Her light grey plates had a sheen of sweat on them and her eyes remained closed. He repeated himself, gently shaking her shoulder.

Her blue-grey eyes snapped open and looked around incoherently until she focused on Max.

"Are you okay?" he asked for the third time, with a trace of annoyance.

She sighed heavily, running a hand over her face, "I think so."

"What were you doing? Oh wait... don't tell me... Was it your biotic eval?" Max said, crossing his arms and lifting a brow ridge. She moaned and turned over.

"Don't even remind me... I have to do it again tomorrow."

Max chuckled and said, "You have fun with that." Solaris glared at him out of the corner of her eye for a moment before closing them again.

"Hey, can you do me a favor? Reach in the side pocket of my rucksack and fish out the nutrient paste." She commanded from her make-shift bed.

"Why can't you do it yourself?" Max teased as he strolled over to the black bag in the corner.

"Just do it, asshole." Solaris grumbled, clearly not in the mood.

"Fine, fine. Just hold on a sec." he said smiling. Shit... she has me really whipped if I'm actually being nice for once... Max thought with a cold tingle of despair. He shoved the thought away for the time being.

Max heaved the bag onto his bunk and began searching all of the numerous side pockets. Feeling something in the left one, he unzipped it and peeked inside. It was an inactive holo picture. Remembering Solaris looking at this last night, Max secretly pulled it out and turned it on. It was a portrait of two content-looking turians. The male on the left had darker grey plates with the same geometric tattoos as Solaris, as did the female on the right. The female's plates were lighter; almost white. They both had the same blue-grey eyes as his bunkmate as well. Parents? I didn't know she was so sentimental... Max thought. But then again, I don't have much experience with women, unlike that ass Gaius. Still intrigued, he scrutinized their expressions. The male, or her dad, I guess, bore a stoic expression; at ease yet serious. He was definitely military. Solaris's mom, on the other hand, wore the turian equivalent of a smile; mandibles flared slightly and eyes shining. But something about the lines under her eyes bespoke of military work as well. They seemed so peaceful, just staring back at him.

"Hey, what's taking you so long?" Solaris called grumpily from the couch.

Max just grunted and stuffed the holo back where it came from, feeling like an intruder. He eventually found the paste, but his mind was on the holo.

The average turian was not known for being a sentimental sap, not even the females. He had a strange feeling that there was a bigger reason behind her carrying the holo along. But what is it? he thought as he tried to puzzle out the pretty woman in front of him.

He watched her as she unscrewed the tube and squeezed. She stopped suddenly, glancing up at him.

Solaris's slender mandibles tightened fractionally, "Why are you looking at me like that?" Her subvocals carried something mysterious.

Max felt the blood bloom under his plates, "Wha- I wasn't..." But it was futile, she had caught him staring.

Solaris raised a brow ridge and ate the paste, still holding eye contact with him over the back of the couch. She seemed to come alive immediately; the gauntness of her eyes disappearing and the color returning to the skin around her neck. Her eyes screwed shut and she shook her head as she swallowed.

"This shit is disgusting." Solaris muttered, closing the tube and examining it.

"You get used to it after a while," Max replied, eager to get off the awkward subject of him ogling at her. He rubbed the back of his neck as he relaxed a bit. She just shook her head as she stood up.

"I'll be back in a bit." Solaris said, sauntering out the door. He watched helplessly once again, his eyes traveling down to her shapely waist... Dammit! I have got to stop doing that... Max thought mentally slapping himself. After the doors had closed behind her, the familiar itch of curiosity descended upon him.

He dashed to his desk like a madman. He didn't have a lot of time, but he just had to know. He quickly opened his computer, which had been shut down in a hurry during Solaris's arrival. The hack he had going came up, but he closed it down quickly. He would continue it another time. Instead, he tapped into Cipritine's Infantry database; an easy enough task for one of his skill level. He did a galaxy-wide search for anyone with the last name of Quinn. It turned out to be a fairly common surname, so Max narrowed it to turian space, hoping for a result. There were six, and he scanned each of the personal reports. There were two Generals; Victor and Ileana Quinn. He read them last, and was shocked at what he found. Ileana's file had big red letters that displayed 'DECEASED' across the top. She had died almost five years ago, but everything else was classified as he expected it to be. Ileana resembled the woman in the portrait; albeit a lot more staid-looking. It was definitely her though, there was no mistaking it. He scanned Victor Quinn's next, once again shocked by what he read. He had passed very recently, only a week and half ago. Like the other General, everything else was classified. Interest piqued, he tried to dig further, but security was tight and it would take him awhile. However, he did turn up their next of kin and other family. Victor had a sister, but Ileana was an only child.

But there was one thing both files had in common. Victor and Ileana had a child, a daughter named Solaris; currently enlisted but MIA in the Cipritine Infantry Academy. Max didn't know what to think or do. He just sat there taking in the fate of the Generals Quinn. I wonder what happened to them... he thought suddenly. But at the same time, there was something very odd about all this. The causes of death were more heavily encrypted than the rest of it. If he kept working on it, it would probably take him a few days. If conditions permit... Max thought drily as he remembered Solaris and Titus barging in. Plus, he had another mission to move forward on. Getting hung up on some fucked-up girl is not what I need right now either. Max thought. But he didn't close the program, and he didn't know why.